Sporting-boot.



PA' IENTED OCT. 9, 1906.

D.J.GOLDBN.

SPORTING BOOT. APPLICATION FILED MAR. l0 1906.

+6? Mya- DANIEL J. GOLDEN, OF RANDOLPH, MASSACHUSETTS.

SPORTING-BOOT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed Much 1906- SeTial 305,201.

Patented Oct. 9, 1906.

T0 wZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL J. GOLDEN, of Randolph, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sporting-Boots, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates particularly to boots used in playing association foot-ball and other games involving frequent and some what violent contact between the upper or instep portion of the foot and a foot-ball or other game appliance.

The invention has particular reference to a boot of 'this character having an outside tongue covering the front opening in the upper and protecting the instep portion of the foot against injurious contact with the ball.

The invention has for its object to provide improved means for securing an outside tongue to the portions of the upper in such manner as to insure the covering of the greater portion of the lacing which fastens the boot, the same lacing which fastens the boot being utilized to secure and fasten the tongue.

The invention consists in the improvements which I will now proceed to describe and claim.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a boot embodying my invention, the lacing being tied. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the same, the lacing being untied and the protecting-tongue loosened. Fig. 3 represents a transverse section through the upper portion of the protecting-tongue.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

In the drawings, a a represent portions of the upper which form the edges of the usual front opening in a boot of this character,the said edges being provided with a series of eyelets b or other means for engaging a lacing c.

d represents a tongue, which is preferably of stout leather similar to that of which the usual toe-cap e is made, the tongue and toecap being preferably integral with each other, although, if desired, the tongue may be made as a separate piece stitched or otherwise secured to the toe-cap or to the equivalent toe portion of the upper. The tongued is formed to extend nearly to the top of the ankle portion, and its width is such that it overlaps those parts of the edge portions a a which are located between the lower and upper ends of the tongue. It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the length of the tongue as illustrated,.although I have shownit as ,terminating somewhat below the top, it being sufficient to extend the tongue upwardly far enough to cover and protect the instep portion of the wearers foot. The tongue (1 is provided at its upper portion with a pair of eyelets f f, which are arranged to engage portions of the lacing c, the latter passing from two of the eyelets b in the upper, through the eyeletsf, and from thence to other eyelets b at a higher point. The eyelets f are located considerably above the instep portion of the shoe, so that the only portion of the lacing that is exposed is at the extreme upper end of the tongue and is therefore not subject to wear and abrasion by contact with a foot ball. The entire outer surface of the tongue below the eyelets f is smooth and unobstructed, the said portion covering the corresponding portions of the lacing and protecting the same from wear.

g 9 represent Wings or flaps affixed to the inner surface of the tongue (1 at its upper por tion, the said flaps having two rows of eyelets h, arranged to coincide with a similar number of eyelets b, so that portions of the lacing can pass from the upper through the flaps g and back to the upper, as indicated in Fig. 2. The flaps g are wholly within and protected by the tongue (1, so that the portions of the lacing which engage these flaps are protected by the tongue, the flaps and the eyelets therein providing for an extended and secure engagement between the tongue and the upper.

It will be seen that the described improve ment provides a protecting-tongue which overlaps the edges of the front opening from the toe portion of the upper to and above the instep and protects not only the Wearers foot, but also the main portions of the lacing which secures the boot, the tongue being secured by the same lacing. It will also be seen that the protecting-tongue attached to the upper at its end portions only and free to move or play independently at its central or intermediate portion enables the tongue to conform freely to the movements of the wearers foot, so that it does not detract from the flexibility of the upper.

1. A boot having in its upper a front opening extending from the top of the ankle portion to the toe portion, and provlded with lacing-engaging means extending along the edges of the opening, and an outside flexible tongue, iminovably secured to the toe portion of the upper and overlapping the said edges, the said tongue having means at its upper end and at a plurality of points below said upper end for engaging portions of the lacing, the lower portion of the tongue being free to play independently.

2. A boot having in its upper a front opening extending from the top .of the ankle portion to the toe portion, and provided with lacing-engaging means extending along the edges of the opening, and an outside flexible tongue immovably secured to the toe portion of the upper and overlapping the said edges, the said tongue having eyelets in its upper end, and lips on its under side below said eyelets, said lips containing eyelets, the eyelets in the tongue and lips being arranged to receive portions of the lacing.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL J. GOLDEN. Witnesses:

C. F. BROWN, E. BATOHELDER. 

